MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2010: Ron Mason
10/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | General
Oct. 1, 2010
Ron Mason
Hockey Coach (1979-2002)
Director of Athletics (2002-07)
Blyth, Ontario
The winningest college hockey coach in history with 924 victories, Ron Mason is truly one of the most legendary figures in the sport he coached for 36 years. Mason led Michigan State to the 1986 National Championship, 17 CCHA regular-season and playoff titles, and guided 19 Spartan teams to the NCAA Tournament.
Those credentials alone would easily have gotten Mason into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame. But he also made an impact as MSU's Director of Athletics for six years, from 2002-07.
"I was able to attend the very first class, in 1992, when they were inducted," said Mason, who was coaching hockey at the time. "It was a wonderful evening, a long evening, but I enjoyed every minute of it. I remember thinking to myself, `Well, if things go really well here, maybe I can get in someday.' I still remember that night to this day, with the coaches speaking and what a great night it was. I'm real proud to be included in the Hall of Fame. This really is a tremendous honor for me."
Prior to Michigan State, Mason won the 1972 NAIA National Championship at Lake Superior State and led Bowling Green to three CCHA regular-season championships and three playoff titles in six seasons (1973-79). Mason guided 23 of his teams to the NCAA Tournament, which is an all-time record. He is also a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, the Lake Superior State Hall of Fame and the St. Lawrence Sports Hall of Fame.
A four-time CCHA Coach of the Year while in East Lansing, Mason amassed a 635-270-69 record for the Spartans in 23 seasons and a 924-380-83 mark overall. He coached MSU's two Hobey Baker Award winners - Kip Miller and Ryan Miller - and mentored 35 All-Americans and 50 former Spartans who went on to establish careers in the National Hockey League. Mason was named the National Coach of the Year in 1992.
"Winning the national championship was obviously a big one, but there were a lot of other amazing things that happened," said Mason. "Ryan Miller's all-time shutout record. Chad Alban, a goaltender, scored a goal one night. Kip Miller having over 100 points. Mike Donnelly having 59 goals in one year. The consecutive sellout streak (MSU sold out Munn Ice Arena 323 consecutive times from 1985-2004). Sometimes you look back on things, and while they happened, yeah, they happened, but those were tremendous accomplishments by some of the players. The guys that went on to become successful in business, and certainly in the NHL, that was also a big thrill for me."
 Ron Mason is the winningest coach in college hockey history with 924 victories.  | |
Mason certainly restored the pride and tradition of the Spartan hockey program, which had won a national title in 1966 under Amo Bessone. One of his main goals was to create a family atmosphere around the program and in doing so, build a consistent winner, year in and year out. It's safe to say his mission was accomplished.
"Amo had been there for 28 years, and we really reached out to those guys that had played for him and wanted to come back," said Mason, who took over the reins of the Spartan program in 1979. "We had a hockey weekend where they could be a part of what we were doing when we were there. It became tradition to do it, and I'm proud of that fact.
"You have to continue to keep everybody involved. It's a family, a small one really, and that's one thing we established when I first got there because I knew I wanted those previous players to feel a part of the program. I think it's tradition now. The guys like to come back. From what I gather, talking to them, when they played each other in the NHL, they always got together and said hello, more so than a lot of other schools, and that's a good thing for Michigan State."
And as for building a program - how about 19 NCAA Tournaments and 17 CCHA regular-season playoff titles in 23 years.
"I think the one thing I look back on is the consistency that we were able to maintain over all those years," said Mason. "Always being in the championship hunt, always being in the NCAA hunt, always thinking we could win another league championship or another national championship. That was the tough part, the consistency, but the most rewarding part of it all."
Following his illustrious coaching career, Mason took on a different role, serving as MSU's Athletics Director. During his tenure as AD, MSU teams captured 11 conference championships (regular season and postseason combined) and one national championship (hockey, 2007). In addition, MSU was represented at the NCAA Championships 76 times, including Final Four/Frozen Four appearances by men's basketball (2005), women's basketball (2005), field hockey (2002 and 2004) and ice hockey (2007).
Mason also led a renaissance of fund raising in the department and construction of athletic facilities on campus, including the Berkowitz Basketball Complex, the Spartan Stadium Tower, the Skandalaris Football Center and the beginning stages of the Old College Field project.
"I had a super group of people surrounding me, all-first class people who really knew their business," said Mason on his staff when he was athletic director. "Dr. Clarence Underwood, who was there just before me, he did a real nice job. He made things a lot easier for me."
In addition, two other milestones in the department happened under Mason's watch - signing a contract with WJR 760 AM and the creation of the Big Ten Network.
"I really see the benefits of WJR now when I can hear Spartan games up in Ontario," laughed Mason. "And getting an opportunity to see and be involved in the Big Ten Network, that turned into something really special."
Mason also was honored to be an athletic director for not only the school that he loves, but the Big Ten Conference as well.
"I got to know the other athletic directors well, and got to see what a classy league the Big Ten really is from top to bottom," he said. "It's a class organization and I was glad to be a part of it."
Mason retired as Michigan State's Athletic Director at the end of 2007. His legacy as a hockey coach and athletic director will now be forever remembered in the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
"These kinds of things don't come lightly," said Mason on his induction. "Obviously, Michigan State means a lot to me. Something like this is really rewarding."